„Magvető vagyok” (Egy parasztember identitásai)
‘I am a seed sower’: The Identities of a Peasant

Summary/Abstract: The study analyses the identity of a versatile man through his diary. The author’s aim is to show how János Nácsa (1908–1986) revealed his personality in his writings. Nácsa thought of himself first and foremost as a peasant, but he also spent years in the army as a volunteer; during this period, he participated in the 1940 campaign in Transylvania. This was the time when he started making his notes. While describing military life he mostly de-tails the daily routines of the camp, but hardly ever mentions his family or shows any sign of homesickness. He never speaks about his earlier years either. He underestimates his role as a soldier: he feels ashamed having to do humble work in duty and doesn’t feel the im-pact of his tasks at the signal corps. Having been a bridesman in his younger years he learned the tradition of the joker. This is where his literary style may come from: his way of narration or the short amusing forms can be regarded as the indirect proof of this. Prosaic and rhymed parts can also be found mixed in his text (prosimetrum): the prosaic ones may be regarded as common notes about his environment and the rhymes may be considered documents of emotionally more important experiences, therefore they may have served to emphasise his message.

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